Picard, Maschmeyer, D'Oench Selected in Inaugural NWHL Draft

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Three Harvard women's hockey standouts heard their names called on Saturday in the National Women's Hockey League's inaugural Junior Draft held in the Bright-Landry Hockey Center. Michelle Picard, Emerance Maschmeyer and Miye D'Oench were among 20 collegiate skaters to be drafted ahead of the NWHL's maiden season.

Picard went was the first Crimson selected, going No. 6 overall to the Connecticut Whale, while Maschmeyer followed at No. 7 to the Boston Pride. D'Oench was chosen No. 15 overall and will join Maschmeyer in staying in Boston. Only Minnesota (4) and Boston College (4) had more players selected.

The three stars helped Harvard compete for a national championship this year as the Crimson finished the 2014-15 campaign with a 27-6-4 overall record and five trophies: a Beanpot title, the Ivy League crown, both ECAC Regular Season and Tournament championships and a National Runners-Up award.

All three will return for their senior campaigns in 2015-16 with a reloaded and veteran squad. Picard, who has 41 career points along the blue line (6-35—41) anchors a talented defensive corps in front of Maschmeyer, who boasts an incredible .941 career save percentage to go along with her sturdy 1.57 goals allowed average. Maschmeyer is zeroing in on Harvard records in wins (she has 46) and saves (1813) heading into her senior year. A leader on the ice, D'Oench is a gritty forward who has tabulated 85 career points in three years (50-35—85), which is good enough for 34th all-time at Harvard. With 15 points in 2015-16, D'Oench would become the 24th Crimson to reach the 100 point plateau in the Crimson's storied history.